This question came to me because it was a source for debate among several people at an aerobics class. They watched the slow pace of the yoga class and wondered if it really could help a person burn fat, or if it was just another trendy way to waste some time.The simple answer is yes, yoga can absolutely help a person lose weight. I wouldn’t recommend it as the only form of exercise you do, but I do think it can be a valuable part of everyone’s exercise regimen. Also note that much of what you observe a yoga class doing, such as holding a certain position, is a lot harder when you are actually doing it.
I’m certainly no yoga guru, but I can say there are a number of benefits to practicing yoga. Yoga promotes better flexibility, balance and posture, all of which can reduce the risk of training injury or injuries at work. It also builds core strength, isometric strength, and functional flexibility. It’s good to stretch and be flexible, but it’s even better if you can use that flexibility in your active life.
But what about losing weight? When you engage in super high intensity cardio training your body derives energy from carbohydrate reserves. That’s the sugar storage in your cells. When these reserves are depleted, it burns fat reserves (yes there is some middle ground but I’m simplifying to make it easier to understand). So in general, extended duration, low-intensity exercise actually burns more fat than short duration high-intensity exercise.
You might be wondering why you need high-intensity exercise at all. One reason is you still need to burn off those sugar stores before they are converted to fat. There are many other reasons, including boosting cardiovascular and pulmonary function, and conditioning your body for aerobic and anaerobic activity.
But at the same time, long, slow exercise, such as yoga or tai chi, still plays a vital role in boosting your overall activity level and thus the amount of calories you expend each day without taking the same toll on your body that strenuous exercise takes. You can take a yoga class or go for an hour long walk each day, but you might not be able to run 5k every single day without risking an overtraining injury, or losing the effectiveness of your training routine.
If possible, I suggest you substitute the Active Stretching days in your fitdaily routine for yoga classes led by a quality instructor. You might also try a yoga DVD. I personally like Rodney Yee’s Power Yoga, where you move from pose to pose more rapidly.
